Method of making wheels.



- Patented Dec. 4, I900. J. T. KELLEY. METHOD OF MAKING WHEELS.

(Application filed May 12, 1900.) (No Model.) 7 27.7

'74? 72 v i a llrirrnn Starts JOHN THOMAS KELLEY, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL R. RAl/VSON, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF MAKING WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,280, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed May 12,1900. Berial No. 16,528- lNo model.)

State of Ohio, have invented a new and Im-' proved Method of Making Wheels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of this invention is to cheapen lo the work of producing metallic wheels, both in respect to the labor and cost of materials, to which end the invention comprises a peculiar method of forming the wheel from metal sheets.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my method and forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side View of the wheel complete. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View of the material from which the hub and web of the wheel are formed, such View illustrating the first step in the process. Fig. 4. isa view showing the same parts in the second stage of the process, and Fig. 5 is a view showing the same parts in the third stage.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, t, and 5,

0 in performing the processwhich constitutes my invention 1 take a metallic sheet with parallel side edges and end edges, the general trend of which is diagonal. This sheetl slit, as shown in Fig. 3, to produce the separate strips a, which subsequently form spokes, and an unbroken middle portion b, which subsequently forms the hub or a part thereof. The ends of the strips a are cut off square, as shown; but the strips are out of transverse 4o alinement, as shown, they being each of the same length, but beingjoined to the unbroken middle portion 1) at different points. The metallic sheet thus formed is tubulated or rolled into the form of a tube, as shown in Fig. 4,

5 in which the middle portion 1) is formed truly cylindrical to constitute the hub. The strips a terminate at different points, as shown, owing to the diagonal trend of the end edges of the blank of sheet metal from which the parts are formed. This step having been performed, the sheet-metal tube is twisted so as to bring all of the ends of the strips a in transverse alinement, giving the form shown in Fig. 5, in which the ends of the tubular structure there illustrated are square. It will also be observed that when this is done the meeting edges of the tubulated sheet that is to say, the side edges (shown in Fig. 3)assume a spiral form.

For the purpose of strengtheningthe hub of the wheel I reinforce the part b with a sleeve 0, which is slipped over the tubulated sheet when it is in the condition shown in Fig. 5. In this connection it is pointed out that the part c is not strictly essential to my invention. It is simply a desirable addition to it. Theoretically the middle portion of the sheet I) of metal forms a complete hub. When the sleeve 0 is in place, the strips a bend outward to form the spokes of the wheel, as shown in- Figs. 1 and 2. In connection with the twisting of the tube in Fig. 4 to produce the form shown in Fig. 5 it is pointed out that the purpose of operation is to stagger the strips a, so that they will not come opposite each other when bent up to form the spokes. Reference to Fig. 1 will truly represent this idea, since it will be seen that no two of the spokes are there shown opposite to each other, but each spoke is equidistant So from the other with respect to the circumference of the wheel. Reference to Fig. 3 will show that when the strips are first formed the strips are located opposite each other in pairs. To the spokes a (see Figs. 1 and 2) a 8 suitable rim d is attached, thus forming a complete wheel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 0 l. The herein-described method of forming the hub and web of a wheel, which consists first in slitting the opposite ends of a sheet of metal to form strips thereon at each end portion, leaving the middle portion un- 5 broken, second in tubulating the sheet, and third, inbending the strips out radially to form the web or spokes of the wheel, the unbroken middle portion of the sheet of metal forming the hub.

2. The herein-described method of forming the hub and web of a wheel, which consists IOO first in slitting the end portions of a metallic sheet, second in tubulating the metallic sheet, third in twisting the tubulated sheet to place the said strips out of relatively opposite positions, and fourth, in bending the strips out radially to form the web or spokes of the wheel.

3. The herein-described method of forming the hub and Web of a wheel, which consists first in slitting the end portions of a sheet of metal, the end edges of which have a diagonal trend, the slits forming strips 011 the sheet, second, in tubulating the metallic sheet, third in twisting the tubnlated sheet to bring the ends of the strips in registry and 15' to place the strips out of relatively opposite position, and fourth, in bending the strips out radially to form the web or spokes of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN THOMAS KELLEY.

Witnesses: v

RoLLIN B. POWERS, CARL W. DAY. 

